A TEMPLE Street, Ogle, East Coast Demerara family was yesterday morning robbed of more than $2M in electronics, money and jewellery at their feed shop at their residence by two ‘fake’ customers.

One of the victims, 72-year-old Neville Sooklall told the Guyana Chronicle that the robbery occurred at about 09:00 hrs when two men arrived on a white motorcycle and enquired about the price for a bag of rice bran.

He related that the duo then entered the yard and went to the feed shop where they gave his daughter-in-law a $1,000 note, but as she handed over the bag of rice bran they grabbed the money out of her hand. Sooklall stated that they then ushered them into the lower flat of the two-storey house where they demanded money and jewellery. At that time, two neighbours and a customer were also present when the robbers told the group to sit in the living room and be quiet, while threatening to shoot them if they did not comply.

He added that within a few minutes the bandits took away computers, iPhone, iPads, money and jewellery they had in the home before making good their escape. Sooklall said they also relieved him of the day’s sales of $15,000 which he had in his pockets and then they locked them inside the house and fled on the motorcycle.

The man stated that the robbers bundled the items into a bag while pointing their gun at them as his daughter-in-law was hesitant in handing over valuables on Tuesday morning.

The Sooklalls, a family of seven including four children, have operated a feed shop at their residence for the past eight years and it was their first armed robbery.

Sooklall said by the time the police arrived the bandits were long gone but they took a statement.

He highlighted the need for police to patrol the area at nights given the regular incidents of armed robberies occurring in that street and its environs. Sooklall said the robbery has left them traumatised and he is hoping the police can act swiftly to apprehend the suspects.